Jacobitism

Movement which supported the return of the Stuarts to the British throne after James II’s deposition at the Glorious Revolution in 1688/1689.

Not only does the term Jacobitism refer to the forces supporting James’s return to England and to the throne, but it also maintains the claims to the throne of his descendants, i.e. his son James Francis Edward Stuart (also known as the Old Pretender or James III/James VIII), as well as his grandsons Charles Edward Casimir Stuart (also known as the Young Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie, or Charles III) and Henry Benedict Maria Stuart (also known as the Cardinal Duke of York or Henry IX).

In the 18th century, Jacobitism not only had a political, but also a religious dimension. James II and his descendants were Catholics refusing to convert to Protestantism. James had even tried to recatholicise England. After the Act of Settlement (1701) that finally excluded all Catholics or persons married to Catholics from the throne, the return of the Stuart dynasty was virtually impossible.

Supporters

Most English Jacobites were Protestants or Non-jurors (meaning that they had refused to take the Oath of Allegiance to William and Mary in 1689). Others, who had previously taken the Oath, only turned to Jacobitism in 1714 as a sign of refusal of the Hanoverian succession. Jacobitism is most strongly associated with the Tories and Jacobites were only in a small minority in England.

Jacobitism was strongest in Scotland, the home of the Stuart dynasty. After the disestablishment of the Episcopalian Church at the passing of the Act of Union (1707) many former Episcopalians and those refusing to accept the Union became Jacobites. The main Scottish clans to support the Stuart dynasty were Gordon, Macdonald, and Cameron (25,000 supporters in all). What is more, Jacobite ideas also appealed to the lower and sometimes criminal elements of society, which makes Jacobitism a form of social protest touching many groups in society.

Jacobite MPs

Until today, the question which MPs were or were not Jacobites has been a controversial topic. It has been claimed by some historians (cf. Cannon) that more than a third of the Tory MPs were Jacobites (including the party leaders), while others have maintained the idea that a majority of the Tory party was clearly Hanoverian after 1714.

The main problem here lies with the definiton of the terms ‘Jacobite’ or ‘Jacobitism’, especially due to the fact that only little evidence has survived until today. When one takes into account that Jacobites were taking part in treasonable activities, and that they had to be careful not to betray their cause, it is not surprising that most of the evidence that has actually survived is often ambiguous or misleading. What is also important to notice, is the fact that in the 18th century the word ‘Jacobite’ was often used as a smearword to discredit political opponents. This can make it difficult to judge nowadays.

While some historians believe that ‘once a Jacobite always a Jacobite’, others claim that most of the time sympathies changed depending on the current political mood and circumstances. A politician could consequently have multiple reasons to favour Jacobitism: be it because the Jacobites were one of the very few existing oppositional groups, or be it to use them to achieve one’s personal political aims.

The Jacobite risings

Due to the relatively small number of supporters, it is not surprising that the Jacobites were most active in times of war, when the country was weakened and when there were foreign powers (especially Catholic and absolutist France where the Pretender was in exile) to support its cause. However, after the death of Louis XIV the Jacobites lost ground in France, and – under political and military pressure from Britain – James Edward even had to leave his exile and relocate to Avignon.

In the course of the century, there were four main Jacobite risings in order to reinstitute the Stuart dynasty to the throne: 1708, 1715, 1719, and 1745.

In 1708, responding to the Scottish discontent at the passing of the Act of Union in 1707, James Edward (who was finally 18) and his fleet tried to land at the Scottish coast. However, his undertaking was crossed by English intelligence and strategic slips on the part of the invaders, and thus the fleet had to return to its French exile.

In 1715, after the death of Queen Anne, the Jacobites again tried to seize the crown. But her death and the arrival of George I came too sudden for proper preparations. Subsequently, George I chose Whig ministers. They instantly impeached the leading Tories such as Bolingbroke and the Duke of Ormonde, who had hoped for a coup d’état and now had to flee to France. Again, the British troops (supported by the Dutch army) managed to fight back the invading troops.

In 1719, another Jacobite expedition, this time escorted by Spanish forces, reached Scotland. However, it got little support and the Jacobites were soon defeated.

1745 marked the last important Jacobite rebellion. Charles Edward and his brother Henry landed in Scotland, and in an at first successful campaign even took Edinburgh. But Jacobitism was largely defended as a decisive political force after the retreat from Derby by the troops of the Young Pretender and their subsequent defeat at Culloden in 1746. In all these rebellions, it became clear that Scotland was central to Jacobitism, and especially in 1715 and 1745, when few Englishmen supported the rebellions and it was the Scots who battled for the Stuarts.

The “real” Royal family

Still today, there is a group of Jacobites maintaining the view that only the descendants of James II have a legitimate claim to the throne. According to them, the succession to the throne is today represented by Duke Francis of Bavaria.

For detailed information see www.jacobite.ca.

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Sources

Arnold-Baker, Charles. The Companion to British History. Tunbridge Wells: Longross, 1996.

Cannon, John Ashton (ed.). The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford: University Press, 1997.

Kluxen, Kurt. Geschichte Englands. Stuttgart: Kröner, 1968.

www.jacobite.ca